Bound by faith the rise of a rejected mate

Melissa's POV

Now that I was back in the pack's domain, I could sense the tension building everywhere. There was a pervasive sense of dread in the air that would not leave. Despite his wounds, Damon's face was peaceful and pallid as he lay on a mattress. I cleaned the gash on his side with care while kneeling next to him.

I tried to maintain my composure as I said, "You should have been more careful."

Damon flinched but forced a tiny smile. "You have Dennis's voice."

I tensed at the sound of his name. "Well, perhaps Dennis is right. You nearly lost your life back there.

Dennis burst into the room, his face black with annoyance, before Damon could reply.

"Melissa," he angrily said. "We must speak."

I looked from Dennis to Damon and back again. Is it possibleto wait? Damon is still—

"No," Dennis cut in, his tone icy. "It cannot."

I got up reluctantly and followed him into the corridor. Dennis turned to me, wrath flaring in his eyes.

He insisted, "What is this, Melissa?" "You rush to Damon's side whenever he gets hurt as if he's the only person who matters!"

I clenched my jaw. Dennis, that is unfair. I was hurt, and he was—

"Again, saving him," Dennis interrupted. However, who is watching out for the other members of the pack? For me?

To quell the fury that was building between us, I inhaled deeply. "You know that's untrue, Dennis. You are all important to me. My goal is to ensure everyone's safety.

His voice brimmed with resentment as he sneered. "Are you? When it seems like the decisions you make are only making matters worse.

He turned and left before I could reply, leaving me standing there with a heavy heart from shame and resentment.

By the time I made it back to the main hall, rumours were rife. Members of the pack stood in groups, speaking in low, anxious tones.

One voice said, "She's the harbinger."

Another person asked, "What if the prophecy is accurate?" "What happens if she ruins us all?"

The words pierced my fists more deeply than any wound. All eyes turned to me as I entered the room, and the murmuring ceased.

Notwithstanding the knot in my gut, I started by saying, "I know what you're all thinking." And I can't act like I know everything. However, I swear to you that I will take every precaution to keep this bundle safe.

Although some heads nodded, their eyes still held suspicion. It resembled attempting to use one hand to stop a rising tide.

Leaning heavily on a crutch but exuding quiet strength, Damon stepped inside. "That's right, Melissa," he shouted, his voice echoing throughout the room. Together, we are more powerful. Don't allow fear to separate us.

At least part of the tension seemed to subside, albeit the pack whispered to one another.

As the gathering came to an end, Damon grabbed my arm. "Avoid letting them affect you," he replied quietly.

Even though it was difficult to shake the weight of their mistrust, I nodded. I whispered, "Easier said than done," but I was unable to think about it. There were more pressing issues to deal with.

I had a dream about Raven that night. I stood in a limitless emptiness while his derisive laughter filled the air.

"Melissa," he said in a chilly, piercing voice. "Did you truly believe that you could alter fate?"

I whirled to locate him, but everything seemed to be engulfed by the blackness. "Exhibit yourself!" I insisted.

He emerged from the darkness with a smug look on his face. "It is impossible to halt the prophecy. You ought to be aware of that by now, of all people.

"You're mistaken," I retorted. "I'm capable of fighting this. I can fight you.

The sound of Raven's laughter made my skin crawl. "Oh, Melissa. It's not just me fighting the battle. It's with your loved ones. You know one of them will turn on you. It has already started.

My heart was racing. "You're telling lies."

"Am I?" he asked, taking a step forward. "Consider it. Who is most likely to benefit from your failure? Who may be opposing you already?

His words lingered as I was drawn into a sea of swirling shadows as the emptiness fell about me.

I gasped as I woke up, my heart pounding. The dream was so vivid that it seemed as though Raven had been in my room.

I tried to get rid of the uneasiness by sitting up, but something wasn't right. It was too quiet, too still.

I hurriedly changed and went out into the corridor. The typical buzz of bustle had vanished, leaving the house unnaturally quiet.

"Dennis?" My voice reverberated through the deserted hallways as I yelled.

No one answered. I felt a knot of fear tighten in my gut as I looked around the rooms and couldn't find him.

I arrived at his room at last. With my heart racing, I pushed the door open, which was slightly ajar.

There was only one piece of paper on the bed, but the room was deserted. I read the message as I took it up, my hands shaking:

Melissa, I apologize. But the pack can only be saved in this way. Believe me.

"No," I muttered, the words becoming as solid as a stone. "This isn't possible."

When I saw tracks leading into the woods, a shiver went down my spine. Dennis was no longer there, and the evidence suggested that he was collaborating with Raven.

I grabbed the note and looked at Damon, who had just come in, his face gloomy.

He looked around the room and inquired, "What's going on?"

I answered, hardly raising my voice above a whisper, "It's Dennis." "He's... he's no more." Additionally, I believe he has deceived us.

Damon's expression grew gloomy. Then we must move quickly. The pack is in even more danger if he is with Raven.

My thoughts were racing, caught between the stark truth of the situation and my incredulity. I kept thinking about what Raven had said in the dream. You will be betrayed by one of them.

The prophecy weighed down on me like never before as I gazed into the shadowy trees. Whatever Dennis had done, it had started a new series of events that might end up destroying the pack.

Furthermore, I wasn't certain that I had the strength to stop it.